Monday, June 06, 2016

Anna Nordqvist fires superb 64 to retain ShopRite LPGA Classic

By Keith Jackson

SKYSPORTS.COM

Anna Norqvist became the
first player to successfully defend the ShopRite LPGA Classic title as
she fired a flawless 64 to snatch a one-shot victory in New Jersey.

Nordvist defied strong breezes on the final day at
the Stockton Seaview Golf Club to make five birdies in an outward 32,
and she picked up further shots at the 12th and 16th to claim the
outright lead.
The Swede almost faltered at the par-five last, but
she held her nerve to hole a clutch par putt from 12 feet and her
clubhouse target of 17 under proved to be enough for her sixth LPGA Tour
win after Haru Nomura's valiant 66 left her one stroke adrift.

Anna Nordqvist became the oldest winner on the LPGA Tour this year

Nordqvist,
who celebrates her 29th birthday on Friday, also became the oldest
winner on the Tour this year by some distance, with all the previous 14
events being won by players aged 23 or under.
"It feels really
special because I've been playing pretty good all spring," said the
Solheim Cup star. "I just haven't really got any results, and it really
got frustrating there for a while.
"My
caddie just told me to stay patient and so did the rest of my team,
because they knew how well I was playing, getting really zero out of it.
Sometimes the longer you have to wait and the more patient you have to
stay, the sweeter it feels when it finally pays off."
Nomura moved
to 15 under after making her fifth birdie of the day at the 11th, but
she was unable to convert any further chances until closing with a four
at the 18th.

Karine Icher was left to rue two bogeys in her closing 69

Overnight
leader Karine Icher had to settle for outright third place on 14 under
after the French player birdied the last to complete a two-under 69
which featured costly dropped shots at the fourth and 13th holes.Charley
Hull produced a confidence-boosting finish as she fired a 67 to earn a
tie for 14th on seven under, but Scottish veteran Catriona Matthew, who
was just one off the lead after opening with a 65, stumbled to a 73 to
slip to three under and finished T31.